US Army is ready to award a contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) 32408152

Posted On
Monday, 24 August 2015 14:06

Defence & Security News - USA

US Army is ready to award a contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)

The US Army is poised to award a contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), its Humvee replacement, in the coming days — a much anticipated milestone with the power to reshape the ground vehicles industry.

JLTV Prototypes

One of three competitors, AM General, Oshkosh Defense and a Lockheed Martin-BAE Systems team, will walk away with a contract for three years of low-rate initial production and five years of full-rate production, for a total of 49,100 for the Army and 5,500 for the Marine Corps.

"Everybody needs this, and one thing I get asked a lot is who needs the contract the most," said James Tinsley, managing partner of Avascent, a strategy and management consulting firm. Tinsley has worked for Oshkosh, Lockheed and a number of subcontractors on JLTV-related efforts at different phases.

The winning firm or team would build 17,000 vehicles for the Army and Marines in the first three years of low-rate initial production, followed by five years of full-rate production, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

The Army seeks a replacement for the Humvee that is as mobile, but with the same protection as a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle (MRAP).

As part of engineering and manufacturing development contracts awarded to the three companies in 2012, each company delivered 22 prototype vehicles.